Process for producing alloyed iron and steel



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE raooEss FOR PRODUCING more!) IRON AND STEEL Tux-e Robert Haglund, Stockholm, Sweden No Drawing. Application November l2, 1927, Serial No.. 232,946. In Sweden. February 9,

2 Claims. (ill. 75.22.5)

This invention relates to such processes for mixed in a finely-dividedstate and formed into producing alloyed iron or steel in which the iron briquettes or the like. wholly or partly is reduced out of iron oxide and According to the present process iron and steel the alloy components are added in the form 'of alloyed with a high percentage of other metals 5 rich chromium alloys. By iron oxide, in the can -be produced with advantage, for example so specification and claims, is meant not only F8203 holding 20-30% chromium or thereabove, nickelbut any oxide of iron as well as iron ores etc. chromium-steel, so-called rustless iron and steel This invention is mainly characterized by the with about 15% chromium, and also alloys addition of chromium alloysin surplus, said surcontaining down to one or a few percentof 10 plus serving as reducing agent for the iron oxide chromium. 65 under formation of a considerable quantity of a ExampZa-Composition of charge by producslag rich in oxide of chromium, By choosing tion of chromium steel with about Cr.

raw material with a low percentage of other slag- Briquettes containing 1150 kg. iron ore conforming ingredients the process is conveniently "centrategioo kg. ferro-chromium, 120 kg. charis regulated so that the slag obtains such a high coal and binding agent. 70

percentage of oxides of chromium that the same Charcoal in lumps-150 kg. will be a very valuable raw material for produc- Above materials are mixed and charged in an ing rich chromium alloys. The iron oxide, iron electric furnace for fusing, whereby one part of ore or the like, .would therefore be rather rich the chromium, corresponding to the 15% debut especially poor in silica. Dressed ore consired in the end product, enters in the alloyed 75 centrates may be used with advantage, and they steel. The reduction takes place partly by means may before use be transformed into lumps by of the carbon and partly by means of the other sintering or briquetting in known ways. The part of the chromium, which hereby is oxidized chromium alloy should also be poor in silicon. and together with other slag-forming ingredients If the raw material is selected with special care, goes into a high chromium oxide slag. The 89 by using chromium alloy added in surplus as the molten products are further treated for refining, only reducing agent, a slag can be obtained in and the furnace is thereupon tapped. The rethis process, that contains only a few percent sulting products are the alloyed steel and a of silica and with a total percentageof oxide of valuable slag, with a content of oxide of chroiron and chromium even surpassing 90%, i. e. a mium even more than in commercial chromium 5 far more valuable raw material than the present ores. commercial chromium ores. The relation between the quantity of chro- According to one form of the invention a carmium that is oxidized and the quantity that will bonaceous material, such as charcoal, coke or be alloyed with the iron or steel can be varied a5 anthracite, is used together with the chromium within wide limits. The quantity of chromium 90 alloy as reducing agent for iron oxide. Apart that is oxidized should, however, as arule amount of the ironmay also be added in a metallic state, to such a considerable part, for instance onefor instance in a molten state or as chips. third or more. of the total quantity of added Other alloy components than chromium may chromium, so that a quantity of.chromium slag I 40 also be admitted. One" may for instance admit necessary for refining'is formed, 95

nickel by adding nickel either in the metallic By rich chromium alloys is here meant alloys state or as oxide that will be reduced in the with considerable higher percentage of chromium process. than there is present in the produced alloyed iron The present process can be carried out both or steel. Thus the common commercial ferroin common electric steel furnaces as well as in chromium alloys with about 60-'70% chromium 100 electric reduction furnaces of the type usually may be used. However, in many cases a higher used when producing iron'alloys, carbides and percentage of iron than usually present in such the like by reduction of oxides. Ordinarily the commercial alloys may be permitted.

furnace bottom should be made of other mate- I claim:

r than carbon. for instance of magnesite of 1. Process of producing chromium alloyed iron 10o chromite, andshould Preferably be l c001ed or steel while reducing iron-oxide by means of from belOW- chromium of a chromium alloy and forming a The charge is with advantage smelted disconslag with a substantial proportion of chromiumtinually, the charge being admitted in portions. oxide, a part-of the chromium entering as a, r The ingredients of the charge shall be intimately constituent of the reduced iron or steel comprismg preparing briquettes I'm-1|: finely sub= divided iron-oxide material and fiem'ocmomium and fusing such briquettes.

2. Prucess f. producing chmum alloyed 11mm or steel while reducing immoxide by mews of chmmi of a chmmium alloy and 21mm. Q slag with & summam pmmz'tium m? cum= 

